Saturday, October 29, 2011

Looking for a do-ahead appetizer that tastes heavenly and looks like you spent a long time making it? Consider gougeres. It is a cheesy two bite savory French cream puff that melts in your mouth. And believe me it is hard to stop at one. Gougeres date back to the 18th century and are said to come from Burgundy, a region in France. The miniature puff pastries are best served warm and are terrific with wine or champagne. Gougeres can be baked, then frozen in plastic bags for up to the month. When you are ready reheat Gougeres and place them frozen on the baking sheet at 325 for 5 minutes. They are rather addictive so make a large batch. It is easy to be creative with this appetizer by considering some of the following variations to replace Gruyere and mustard with:

Friday, October 28, 2011

The Statue of Liberty was sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. Today marks the anniversary of first dedication of Lady Liberty on Oct. 28, 1886. Some trivia I found interesting

It took 210 crates to ship the statue to America

In 1982-86 the statue's structure, exterior, heating elevators were renovated in a 31 million project

Monday, October 24, 2011

The best selling Halloween candy may not be what you think. I am sure you want to guess something chocolate but candy corn comes in as the top seller. Nearly 8.3 billion candy corn kernels are sold every year. 80% of which are sold during the months of September and October. Candy corn history dates back to the 1880's when the Philadelphia based Wunderlee Candy Company invented and manufactured this popular treat. In 1900 the Goelitz Candy Company, which later became the Jelly Belly Candy Company started making these candies and continues today. There are a variety of recipes found on line that use candy corn as an ingredient. The following link shows step by step directions to making candy corn cookies.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Did you know that it is a commonly held belief that no word in the English language rhymes with the word orange? One study of 5,411 one syllable English words found there are 80 words with no rhyme one being orange. The lack of rhyme for orange has inspired many numerous silly verses such as the following one penned by Gemma Stott in 2007.

What word rhymes with Orange?It's starting to puzzle meWith all the words we use each dayTo find one should be easy

It's like trying to rhyme 'purple'Nothing's ever really rightIt's like 'silver' or even 'month'Finding a match is such a fight!

There has to be a word out thereStart to run through the alphabet'Lorenge?' 'Torenge?' Those aren't even wordsWhy's this rhyme so hard to get

I can't find a single matchI've now wasted so much timeThis is getting so impossibleI can't find anything that rhymes!

So what word rhymes with Orange?This quest is getting really toughI can't find a single word...Syringe! That's close enough!

It's All About The Orange penned by Bella

My owners preferred choice of color these days is orange-orange and more orange. Seems the hunting season puts everyone in overdrive around here to accessorize with this blazing color. Which means I get dressed up in these ridiculous outfits and isn't even Halloween. They seem awfully worried some hunter might mistake me for a deer on the loose. Next thing you know they will probably make me wear some silly mask or carry a Trick or Treat bag in mouth and go door to door. Really I don't care for this color but my owners thinks it compliments my autumn fur tones. Can you believe my owners went so far as to get matching coats? What were they thinking?

Today I am not outside much since I need my beauty rest. My weekend play date with Sadie, an English setter, exhausted me. Sometimes I had a hard time keeping up with her high energy. But what fun we had chasing, pouncing, leaping and jumping with each other. Once in awhile I did find it hard to share my toys and water bowl. But what a bonus when her owner brought out the rawhide bones, my favorite treat.

Some pictures from my eventful weekend have been posted. Be sure to click on picture for full screen viewing!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

In a previous blog posting I suggested using the carrot cake recipe to make Halloween cupcakes. I have posted a picture of this idea. The cupcakes were frosted with a cream cream cheese frosting but I added green food coloring. The sprinkles with black spiders were an added effect. After frosting I recommend putting cupcakes back in muffin tins and refrigerate to firm up the frosting.

I came across a very clever Halloween idea to make cake brains in a jar. The directions seem easy and it certainly would be a conversation piece to serve to your guests. Here is the link

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

"Marge and Lola took one look at the poster on the barn door and almost lost their cluck. Elvis Poultry was top bird. They had to win those tickets."

This opening line just drew me right into this picture book as well the captivating illustrations. Dan Santat who illustrated Chicken Dance was the keynote speaker at a recent children's literature I attended. His illustrations are just the perfect compliment to this goofy, witty tale about two chickens on a mission to win the barnyard talent contest, The prize two concert tickets to see the famed singer Elvis Poultry. The story has tongue and cheek humor that children as well as adults will enjoy.

Another picture book that caught my attention was Book Speak! by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon. Laura is a local writer in the Twin Cities area who also teaches writing classes. Each poem gives voice to those who seldom get a voice...the books themselves. The illustrations are a superb a mixture of collage, drawings and digital montage that highlight the poetic voice of books.

A Character Pleads for His Life

Open the cover and liberate me!

Turn the first page.

I'll be boundless and free!

Both of us want to be daring and bold.

Make the decision.

Let magic unfold.

I'll help you be something you've never been.

Surfer dude, scientist, sea turtle, twin...

If you don't help me, I will not survive.

Only your actions can keep me alive.

I'll swim in the ocean

I'll breathe the salt air.

I'll feel the waves breaking, get sand in my hair.

Don't close the cover and don't walk away.

Don't leave me squished in here day after day.

Please open the cover and liberate me!

Turn the first page.

We'll be boundless and free.

Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

4 eggs beaten

2 tsp. soda

1 cup white sugar

1-cup brown sugar

2 TB. Cinnamon

1-1/3 cup oil

1 cup crushed pineapple –drained

1-3/4-2 cups grated carrots

1-1/2 crushed nuts

1 cup white flour

1-cup whole wheat flour

½ cup coconut-optional

Directions:

Beat eggs till fluffy and add rest of ingredients

Mix well about 2 minutes

Bake @ 350 in a greased 13 x 9 pan for 25-30 minutes

Cream Cheese Frosting

3 cups of powdered sugar

1 TB. vanilla

1 3-oz. package softened cream cheese

Add milk as needed to get right consistency

Sprinkle crushed nuts on top

Frost and refrigerate

Take out of refrigerator about ½ hour before serving

Halloween idea: Make the cake batter but put it in Halloween cupcake liners. After it is baked and frosted use Halloween sprinkles on top. It is very festive looking!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Popular in the depression era were mystery cakes that featured a surprising ingredient: condensed tomato soup. This cake tastes like a cross between a spice and carrot cake flavored with nuts and raisins. Perhaps this cake was popular during the depression era because eggs and dairy products were in limited supply. Most of the recipes I looked at use a small amount of butter and no eggs. The condensed soup makes the cake moist. Recently I had this cake and would have never guessed the mystery ingredient. The recipe posted is one from a friend's mother dating back to the 30's. If you Google and type in mystery cake or tomato soup cake several similar recipes come up. I think making and serving this cake would be a really good conversational piece for your guests!

Andy Warhol's paintings of Campbell's soup cans transformed him into an overnight sensation when they were first exhibited in 1962. The exhibition featured 32 portraits of soup cans each identical except for the flavor inscribed on their labels. These portraits are now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Of all the varieties of soup Warhol produced the tomato one was his most valued. Once when asked why he chose to paint Campbell's soup cans he said that it had a personal significance to him as a consumer. He used to have the same soup lunch every day for 20 years. The tomato soup can portrait by Warhol is one of the most iconic images of the 20th century ushering in the birth of the Pop Art Movement. It is posted at the top of the blog.

Tomato Soup Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 can tomato soup concentrate(Campbells)

3/4 tsp. baking soda

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup walnuts

1 cup raisins

Directions:

Creamshortening and sugar

Empty soup can into a small bowl and add baking soda-Not to worry it will foam!!!

Slowly add soup mixture to shortening/sugar mixture. Not to worry it will appear curdled!

Did you know that many of A.A. Milne's first children's poems and stories were printed for adults rather than children? A. A. Milne wrote for a publication called Punch. In 1925 on Christmas Eve he wrote his first Pooh story. Today marks the anniversary of the book Winnie-The- Pooh first published in 1926. I posted a picture of a vintage book.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

"October's full moon is known as the Hunter's Moon. There is no denying that the power and allure of the moon is huge for many. So if you should happen to be outside in the dark listen carefully for the the wild hunt could be fast approaching. The huntsman and his pack are out there roaming the night battling great evil . And if you happen to catch a glimpse of them you must run, run, run as fast as you can to escape the merciless beasts or you could be torn into pieces."

My doggie hair was practically standing on end listening to this scary tale. I was just happy to be safe inside and not near any beasts who could shred me into pieces. I snuggled into my quilt and quickly fell fast asleep.

Several hours well past midnight my tummy began to hurt and I began to pace frantically back and forth trying to get my owner's attention. I needed to go out and NOW!! before I had an accident. While I was tethered outside eerie sounds filled the air like wailing and mournful cries. The moonlight was so bright I could see shadows of something way out in the yard. I gave my best woof-woof at whatever was out there. I wanted it to be GONE. Well my owner now was quite annoyed with all the commotion, dragged me in, flipped off the yard light and told me sternly its way past bedtime.

But I just couldn't sleep with my tummy aching. I knew I was close to having another accident. I paced again and again hoping to get my owner's attention. Well the bad part was I needed OUT every hour on the hour. This went on and on till early morning when the last time I wanted OUT my owner just opened the door and slammed it shut. Yikes!!! I was free and not even tethered. I could not believe it. I ran for the woods. I needed to know what was out there making the noises. I was sure my woof-ruff-woof-ruff would scare anything away. When no one came to find me I knew it was time to go home. Peaks of sun were now coming up over the lake and I was exhausted from roaming the woods for hours. It was not one bit fun anymore! I wanted inside. I settled down on the porch hoping they would remember to bring me in soon out of the cold. But as time passed I began to wonder what happened. Did they fall asleep waiting for me to return?

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Butternut Squash Risotto

Ingredients:

2 TB. Olive oil

½ medium onion chopped finely

½ medium butternut squash peeled and cut into ½ inch pieces

2 cloves of garlic finely minced

1 cup Arborio rice

1 cup dry white wine

3 –1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. parsley flakes

½ cup Romano grated cheese

optional pea pods

Directions:

Spray cookie sheet with PAM-preheat oven @ 375

In a single layer place squash cubes-drizzle lightly with butter

Mix ½ tsp cinnamon with 2 TB. brown sugar and sprinkle over squash

Bake uncovered 10 minutes

While squash is in oven in a large fry pan brown onion with garlic in olive oil keep pan covered,stir occasionally for about 6 minutes on medium heat

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The following poem was used as part of a talk during a recent church sermon. I thought it was rather timely. If you look real hard at the photo posted you can see Bella enjoying an Autumn walk.

Speaking of Bella, her Up North adventures continue. Last night's adventure outside well into the night and early morning hours is one story you have to hear. She is begging to blog so we are saving the tale for another day's posting. Check back!

Autumn

by Fr. Edward Hays

priest, author and spiritual guidance director

O sacred season of Autumn, be my teacher,

for I wish to learn the value of contentment.

As I gaze upon your full-colored beauty,

I sense all about you

an at-homeness with your amber riches.

You are the season of retirement,

of full barns and harvested fields.

The cycle of growth has ceased,

and the busy work of giving life

is now completed.

I sense in you no regrets:

you've lived a full life.

I live in a society that is ever-restless,

always eager for more mountains to climb, seeking happiness through more.

Ree Drummond is an author, blogger, Food Network Star, housewife and mother. She is featured in the recent issue of Country Womanmagazine. Perhaps you have heard about the blog that profiles her life on a Oklahoma ranch with The Marlboro Man and their four homeschoooled children. Beautiful photography, keen observations on ranch life, homestyle recipes all are written in a sharp witty style. Ree was one of the first food bloggers to feature step by step pictures on how to prepare a recipe on her website. Check it out you may find it an interesting read

Lucky I got most of my picture taking done this past week as it appears a blustery Professor Wind roared through the yard leaving the trees almost bare.

Taste of Home October 2011 had some interesting holiday recipe ideas you might want to think about trying. I posted a picture of Witches' Brooms and Wide-Open Espresso Cookies featured in their current issue.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The calendar says its Fall and it certainly looks like Autumn but this week's balmy weather with above normal temperatures has given us a gift here in the Midwest. We have an extension of summer!!! The temperatures have soared and one just wants to savor every minute.

Since Halloween is on the horizon I will be featuring recipes for appetizers, desserts, main dishes and drinks for your get togethers in the upcoming blog postings.

Halloween Sunset Cocktail

makes one serving and the two tone color makes it the perfect party drink (MarthaStewart.com)

Ingredients:

3 oz. tangerine juice

1-1/2 oz. white rum

3/4 oz. grenadine

Directions:

Combine juice and rum in a tall glass with ice cubes

Top with grenadine

Easy Caramel Chex Mix

Ingredients:

1/2 cup creamy caramel sauce (I tested with a product called Jimmys found in the produce section)

1 TB. butter

6 cups Cinnamon Crunch cereal

1/3 cup peanuts

1/3 cup small twist pretzels

1/3 raisins

1/3 cup toffee bits

Directions:

In a microwave safe bowl combine caramel and butter

Heat for 30 seconds

Place cereal, peanuts, pretzels, raisins in a bowl toss with caramel sauce

Heat in microwave 4 minutes but stop after each minute to stir so the mixture is evenly coated

Spread out on wax paper sprinkle with toffee bits and cool

Store in an airtight container

Halloween Dip

adapted from Tastefully Simple products recipe collection

Ingredients:

1 large yellow pepper

1 small package of dry Buttermilk dressing mix

1- 8 oz package of softened cream cheese

1 TB. hot sauce

2-3 pitted large black olives

blue Aztec chips

Directions:

Combine cream cheese, hot sauce, dressing mix (may need a little milk to make it the right consistency)

Monday, October 3, 2011

Reading David LaRochelle's picture book The End made me think of this line I had written in my journal. I loved the book's format which starts at the end of the story and then spins the tale of a princess, lemonade, a dragon, bunnies, a flying teacup, a hungry giant and a mysterious bag of gold all ending when pigs fly. Children will love reading a story that unfolds backwards and moves toward a beginning.

The Taliban regime seizing control of Kabul seemed like the end for Afghan women who subsequently were banned from school and confined to their homes. But Kamila, a young women who had five siblings to care for, wrote another story for herself. She was resourceful and displayed resilience by creating a thriving dressmaker business. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a gripping true tale of women who survived brutality and the Taliban regime that had strictly prohibited women from working. I found the true stories of these courageous women quite impressive as they overcame incredible odds. I highly recommend this book.

With the ending of summer and the beauty of Fall unfolding we may all have new stories to tell.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked white chicken chopped

1 small sweet onion chopped

(8 oz.) package of white mushrooms

½ cup white wine

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 cup frozen baby peas thawed

1 cup matchstick carrots

½ cup flour

1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper

¾ tsp salt

¼ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. dried tarragon

1 TB. parsley

1 TB. chives

¼ tsp. dry mustard

½ cup Parmesan cheese grated

1-1/2 cups light cream

2 TB. butter

1 egg

1 (17.2 oz.) package frozen puff pastry sheets thawed

Directions:

In a large skillet melt butter and sauté mushrooms, onions, pepper, and carrots till tender

About Me

I am ever ready to try new activities, explore different regions, and willing to take on challenges. I have a elementary and middle school teaching background. Some of my special interests include; writing, poetry, picture books, reading biographies, trying new recipes, traveling to new places, being at the lake, but most of all enjoying time with my family and friends.